The Syrian Coalition’s Supreme Hajj Committee thanked the Turkish government for the facilitations it provided to the Committee and the transportation of Syrian pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform hajj.

The Committee’s remarks were made in a speech by Director of the Committee Samer Berkdar during the reception of an official delegation from the Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs, headed by Akram Kalash, at the residence of the Committee in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The meeting was attended by Head of the Committee’s Religious Mission Sheikh Mutai Al-Butein, members of the Syrian Islamic Council, headed by Dr. Muhammad Abu Al-Khair Shukri, trustees of the pilgrims’ groups, members of the Committee’s administrative, religious and health mission, and Syrian pilgrims.

Berkdar said that the Turkish government has been providing facilitations for the work of the Committee since it was established in 2013. He pointed out that the Turkish government allowed the transit of 3,000 intending Syrian pilgrims from northern Syrian to Saudi Arabia as well as allowed 4,000 others to leave for Saudi Arabia and return without the need to obtain visas.

The Committee has overseen the hajj journeys by Syrian pilgrims for the fifth consecutive year. A total of 15,000 Syrians performed hajj for this year.

The Committee has opened several offices in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and northern Syria as well as branch offices in the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait. The offices provide services to Syrian pilgrims and manage their affairs while performing hajj. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)